Creating Supportive Spaces: The Importance of Lactation Rooms in the Workplace

Today, more than 80% of new mothers in the U.S. begin breastfeeding, and 6 in every 10 new mothers are in the workforce, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Research shows that supporting breastfeeding employees benefits both families and businesses through reduced absenteeism, higher retention rates and increased productivity. However, many working mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than planned due to workplace barriers.

In 2022, Congress passed the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections (PUMP) Act, where employers of all sizes are required to provide a reasonable amount of break time and a clean, private space for lactating workers of all genders to express milk for up to one year following the birth of the employee’s child.

However, the law does not require employers to have a dedicated, permanent lactation space. Yet this is something that working mothers need.

As more North Carolina employers recognize this need, lactation rooms are becoming increasingly common in workplaces. But what makes an effective lactation room, and why should businesses invest in creating these spaces?

We contacted several Family Forward NC® Certified employers to find out.

Volvo Group: A phased approach to supporting nursing employees

At Volvo Group’s North American headquarters in Greensboro, supporting nursing parents has become a priority through their Caregivers Employee Resource Group (ERG), which was formed last year.

The ERG has been focused on ensuring Volvo not only meets compliance with the PUMP Act, but goes beyond the minimum requirements to create supportive spaces.

Their approach has been methodical, starting with an audit of their 66 North American sites to assess the current state of lactation facilities. Their vision for “best” includes offering amenities like sinks, refrigerators, comfortable furniture and supplies.

One of their model locations in Maryland features a shared hallway with a sink, refrigerator and supplies, with sectioned-off private rooms — similar to dressing rooms — allowing multiple parents to express milk simultaneously while maintaining privacy.

At their Greensboro campus, Volvo Group has seven lactation spaces, with one being actively constructed. While construction is underway, they’ve even installed a Mamava pod — similar to those seen in airports — to ensure adequate accommodations.

For businesses looking to create or improve their lactation facilities, the Volvo Group team offers this advice:

“Ask your employees who have used these resources what they’re looking for,” says Brittany Carty, Director, Employee Experience and People & Culture Communication at Volvo Group. “Having a great space will allow the employees to continue their pumping journey and keep working moms in the workforce.”

Why lactation rooms matter

Lactation support specialists emphasize that these dedicated spaces serve multiple purposes that benefit employees and employers.

The pressure and stress of returning to work while breastfeeding can be immense. Having proper accommodations means parents don’t have to choose between their job and feeding their baby. This has tangible benefits for employers, too.

“For breastfed babies, there’s a lesser risk of infection and sickness, which means parents will take less time off,” says Marketa Baker, a community health educator at Every Baby Guilford.

Perhaps the most compelling reason for creating quality lactation spaces is the impact on employee retention and satisfaction.

“When you become a parent, you want to feel supported,” Baker says. “And so your workplace being able to be an extension of your support is a beautiful thing.”

Baker says an effective lactation room should include:

• Comfortable seating.
• Electrical outlets.
• A surface to place the pump.
• Nearby sink access for cleaning.
• Enough space to feel comfortable; not cramped.
• Easy access without needing to track down keys.
• Privacy to help parents relax and separate from the work environment.
• A refrigerator, while not required, is highly beneficial for milk storage. Alternatively, ensuring the room is near a communal refrigerator or providing space for cooler bags with ice packs can work.

Learn more about how your company can support breastfeeding workers from Family Forward NC®.

3 more examples of Greensboro business leaders paying attention to lactation rooms

Here’s what a few more Family Forward NC® Certified employers said about their lactation rooms.

Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) covers 257 acres and employs more than 1,400 full-time and part-time people. There are eight designated lactation rooms across the college’s seven campuses and locations.

“As a college that supports the development of students, we understand the importance of mother and newborn bonding,” says Dr. Cheryl Bryant-Shanks, associate vice president of human resources at GTCC. “For nursing moms, we’re happy to provide spaces across our campuses that are comfortable and private.”

Charles Aris, employs 98 people nationwide and has 33 team members working in or around their Greensboro headquarters. They have one lactation room.

“When we built our building, we added this in as part of the core design because it was important to us to support all employees’ needs, especially working mothers,” says Danielle Bowman, the company’s chief people officer. “Our room has a recliner chair, a refrigerator, storage space, lactation supplies and a sink. Our team has shared with us that they appreciate having this dedicated space.”

Clifford Thompson, president and co-founder of Thompson Traders, Inc., wanted to go “beyond the basics” when he re-designed his company’s lactation room in 2023. He bought new couches, a TV, a refrigerator and artwork to make the space as comfortable and relaxing as possible.

“This was a renovation project our team was proud of,” Thompson says. “I encourage my fellow Greensboro CEOs to look at their lactation rooms and ask themselves: ‘How can you improve this space?’ It makes a big difference in employee morale.”

For more information, Family Forward NC® shares several ways to support breastfeeding employees in your workplace.

Here are a few more ways you can support

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